Lebanon, once known as the Paris of the Middle East, still boasts some of the most exquisite and historically rich ruins and sites in the entire world. From crusader castles to ancient Roman temples, Lebanon is a country you have to visit to get the full picture of our origins as humanity.

The magnificent temples of Baalbek, the ancient Phoenician port cities of Tyre and Sidon, and Byblos, the oldest continuously inhabited city, are the most well-known sites in the nation. However, there are also some hidden gems in this upper region of the land of milk and honey. 

Here is a look at 7 of the top historical sites to see in Lebanon:

1) Sidon Sea Castle

Built by the Crusaders in the 13th century on a small island, the Sidon Sea Castle was once the site of the temple of the Phoenician version of Heracles, Melqart. The Mamluks took control of the castle during the Crusades and made many additions to the structure including a causeway to the shore. Over about eight centuries, the Sidon Sea Castle has experienced skirmishes and all-out wars and yet it stands strong. Perhaps, not all castles by the sea fall in eventually. 

2) Mseilha Fort (Batroun Castle)

The legendary Druze Emir Fakhreddine II built this castle in the 17th century on a tall, narrow limestone rock on the pass between Tripoli and Beirut. While Mseilha Castle is relatively recent history, scholars believe the rocky outpost has been used as a defensive perch since antiquity. The structure is extremely well-preserved and conveniently located along the highway.

3) Anjar Ruins 

The Anjar Ruins, stand as a remarkably distinct example of Umayyad architecture dating back to the 8th century A.D. It wasn’t rediscovered in Bekaa until the 1940s when excavations uncovered a fortified city surrounded by forty towers and walls. Curiously, archaeologists realized the city was never actually completed. While it offers a detailed picture of Umayyad city planning, after the Anjar caliph was bested in 744 A.D., the partially constructed city was abandoned. 

4) Byblos Citadel

Built by the Crusaders from the remains of Roman structures and indigenous limestone, the Byblos Castle was erected in the 12th century. A moat was dug around the castle, which belonged to the Lords of Gibelet (the name Byblos, Lebanon was called by during the Middle Ages). Saladin captured the city and dismantled much of the fortifications in 1190, though it was recaptured and rebuilt roughly 10 years later. While the citadel itself is extremely well-preserved, perhaps in nearly pristine condition even, what might be most impressive is the expansive site it stands on, which includes a Phoenician Royal Necropolis, a Roman amphitheater, Egyptian temples, and other Bronze Age and prehistoric structures. The former Egyptian colony is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world with arguably the oldest port and it boasts the earliest found inscription of the Phoenician alphabet. 

5) Smar Jbeil Castle

Many native Lebanese haven’t even heard of Smar Jbeil Castle, yet this absolutely stunning citadel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and has an incredibly rich history. Visitors enjoy views from Jbeil to Tripoli all the way to Bcharri on the eastern side. The castle itself dates back to the Phoenicians, but was used and added onto by the Romans and the Crusaders before the Maronites really took control of it and infused the surrounding village with their religious identity. Smar Jbeil Castle has been under the control of Alexander the Great and the Persians and each of its conquerors have also left touches of their stay. The final result is one of the most astounding, yet forgotten sites in all of Lebanon.

6) Sidon Sea Castle 

Located in Saida (also called Sidon), this historical site in the ancient Phoenician city is one of the most visually enchanting locations in Lebanon. It’s said that Sidon has been inhabited since 4000 B.C.E., and the very spot where this castle was built upon, was once a Phoenician temple of Melqart. 

Sidon was so historically significant that the Lebanese people were often referred to in the Bible as Sidonians. Yet of all the history and remnants that remain in the city, perhaps none is as spectacular or well-preserved as the 13th century fortress. However, what you currently see is not the entirety of what the Crusaders built. Earthquakes and wars have tested this ancient structure. There is some speculation that the ground on which Sidon Sea Castle was built was also at one point the Phoenician King’s palace. 

7) Baalbek Ruins

To even call this incredible site ruins almost takes away from the fact that it’s expansive and plain-to-see grandeur has caused many to speculate it was built by giants. Since 9000 B.C.E., Baalbek has been a place of worship and a critically important crossroads of many cultures and civilizations, including the Romans, Christians, various Islamic sects, and various peoples of Mesopotamia. Until around 150 BCE, Baalbek was primarily centered around a temple dedicated to the Phoenician gods Astarte (goddess of fertility and war) and Baal; the Phoenician equivalent of Zeus. 

However, after colonizations, modern battles, and other events that occurred at this once sacred site, archaeologists continue to be puzzled by what remains. The magnitude of the Temple of Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus leave only clues as to how they were assembled and carved. The Temple of Jupiter is surrounded by 54 columns, which stand roughly 23 meters tall and are considered to be some of the largest in the world. The Temple of Bacchus is probably the most photographed and heavily featured part of the ruins. Its Roman carvings and adorning make it a megalithic sight worth seeing. Nearby, also sits the world’s largest hewn stones.